The UEFA Champions League title is something every club in Europe dreams of lifting.
A competition for the very best teams on the continent, Champions League triumph requires season-long consistency and an ability to perform when the pressure is on.
Some clubs have proven their UCL quality over the years, while others have stuttered when it matters most.
The Sporting News looks at which teams have enjoyed the most success and most failure in the Champions League.
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Real Madrid are the undisputed kings of the Champions League, with their victory over Borussia Dortmund at Wembley Stadium on June 1 securing their 15th trophy.
The Spanish club dominated the Champions League from the outset — when it was known as the European Cup — picking up five straight titles from the competitions inception. More recently, they also claimed three straight between 2016-2018, before winning again in 2022 and 2024.
Italian giants AC Milan are the next best performing club, with seven titles to their name, but they haven’t tasted success in the competition since 2007.
Liverpool and Bayern Munich are tied for third with six wins.
| Club | Titles | Finals won |
|---|---|---|
| Real Madrid | 15 | 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1966, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2024 |
| AC Milan | 7 | 1963, 1969, 1989, 1990, 1994, 2003, 2007 |
| Liverpool | 6 | 1977, 1978, 1981, 1984, 2005, 2019 |
| Bayern Munich | 6 | 1974, 1975, 1976, 2001, 2013, 2020 |
| Barcelona | 5 | 1992, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2015 |
| Ajax | 4 | 1971, 1972, 1973, 1995 |
| Manchester United | 3 | 1968, 1999, 2008 |
| Inter | 3 | 1964, 1965, 2010 |
| Juventus | 2 | 1985, 1996 |
| Benfica | 2 | 1961, 1962 |
| Chelsea | 2 | 2012, 2021 |
| Nottingham Forest | 2 | 1979, 1980 |
| Porto | 2 | 1987, 2004 |
| Celtic | 1 | 1967 |
| Hamburg | 1 | 1983 |
| Steaua Bucharest | 1 | 1986 |
| Marseille | 1 | 1993 |
| Borussia Dortmund | 1 | 1997 |
| Feyenoord | 1 | 1970 |
| Aston Villa | 1 | 1982 |
| PSV Eindhoven | 1 | 1988 |
| Red Star Belgrade | 1 | 1991 |
| Manchester City | 1 | 2023 |
While some sides have enjoyed plenty of success in the Champions League, others have had to endure their fair share of heartbreak.
Despite winning two UEFA Champions League titles, Juventus have also lost a record seven finals.
The Serie A side has been defeated in their past five finals in the competition with their most recent loss coming in 2017 against Real Madrid.
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Bayern Munich and Benfica are next worst when it comes to defeats in finals, having both lost on five occasions.
Atletico Madrid have also notably lost all three Champions League finals they have made to date, while Inter Milan have won three and lost three of theirs, most recently in 2023.
| Club | Runners-up | Finals lost |
|---|---|---|
| Juventus | 7 | 1973, 1983, 1997, 1998, 2003, 2015, 2017 |
| Bayern Munich | 5 | 1982, 1987, 1999, 2010, 2012 |
| Benfica | 5 | 1963, 1965, 1968, 1988, 1990 |
| Milan | 4 | 1958, 1993, 1995, 2005 |
| Liverpool | 4 | 1985, 2007, 2018, 2022 |
| Real Madrid | 3 | 1962, 1964, 1981 |
| Barcelona | 3 | 1961, 1986, 1994 |
| Atletico Madrid | 3 | 1974, 2014, 2016 |
| Inter Milan | 3 | 1967, 1972, 2023 |
